Los Angeles Unified School District officials on Monday celebrated the first day of the second semester of the 2025-26 school year, saying that classrooms will remain a safe haven for students and parents.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho touted the district’s success in academic improvement, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and establishing new historic highs in reading and math, as revealed by the Smarter Balanced State Assessment. The results showed that students made significant improvement across all grade levels and subject areas, mainly reading, math and science, he added.
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom recognized the district for its improvements in his State of the State address.
“This is a point of pride for our entire school district, the fact that we improved in reading and math at a faster rate than the entire state of California, despite the challenges that we have faced,” Carvalho said during a news conference Monday at 96th Elementary School in Watts.
“This school is an example: 96th Street Elementary is a priority school, but it is a school that has reduced chronic absenteeism from last year to this year alone in reading and mathematics,” the superintendent added.
Carvalho noted that the LAUSD begins 2026 and the second semester with a renewed sense of optimism and doubling down of efforts to continue the recent improvements. But he said that can only be done by ensuring schools are safe places.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho speaks during a press conference to kick-off the beginning of the second semester at the 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) LAUSD Board President Scott Schmerelson speaks during a press conference to kick-off the beginning of the second semester at the 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Eleven-year-old 6th grader Kylee Louis speaks during an LAUSD press conference to kick-off the beginning of the second semester at the 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Lilian Umaña teaches her first grade class on the first day of the second semester at LAUSD’s 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reads to Mrs. Umaña’s 1st grade class during an event to kick-off the beginning of the second semester at the 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 5LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho speaks during a press conference to kick-off the beginning of the second semester at the 96th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG) Expand“During the first semester, we saw across our community a deep impact on our schools — (illegal) immigration raids that have created fear in every single neighborhood where we have schools,” Carvalho said. “We repudiate: We reject that climate of fear. It has no place in our community. It has no place in the streets of our nation.”
Scott Schmerelson, LAUSD Board of Education president and representative of Board District 3, encompassing schools in San Fernando Valley, echoed the superintendent’s message.
“We know that every student has the right, both morally and constitutionally, to a quality education, and we’ll make sure that happens,” Schmerelson said.
He added that the LAUSD has resources for students and families in need.
“Anyone who is in need of mental health treatment or counseling, please contact LAUSD. Do our students need counseling? Do they need tutoring? Do families need legal help with their immigration status? Please, contact LAUSD. Reach out to us. We will be happy to work with you and make 2026 a great year for all of us,” Schmerelson added.
In response to widespread federal illegal immigration enforcement actions that escalated last summer, the LAUSD implemented new policies at the start of the school year, which began in August.
The district established so-called “safe zones” to ensure the passage of students to and from schools with the aid of patrols, consisting of volunteers watching for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. The district implemented new bus routes as well, which parents can request as an additional precaution, and other measures such as “Know Your Rights” training.
Students and families can also get meals at school, a program LAUSD officials hope more community members will take advantage of.
Carvalho reiterated that the LAUSD does not allow any law enforcement entity to walk into its schools and take any type of action against a student, parent or employee without a signed judicial warrant.
“We have not allowed that to happen since last year until now, and we will not allow it to happen,” Carvalho said.
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